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How can it be so long since I have written? It’s hard to believe how much time has gone by! But to be honest, these past few months have been among the hardest of my life.

What that means is that my grand plan to figure out a way to “take care of my Dad” as he was on the road to recovering from his stroke has not been what I envisioned. On the plus side, I have been able to get him some great medical help. I’d heard from many folks that we have good resources here in the Rogue Valley and have found some WONDERFUL health care professionals to assist with his many needs. To begin, I would like to offer my thanks to Dr. John Sager for he has been a tremendous help to us both.

Dad has also been fortunate to be able to work with therapists like Brandon and Marilka from Providence Hospital and they have helped him to gain some strength back (and though I did bring them a pie for their kind efforts but have no photo to show!).

Lastly, my friend Barb Street has patiently worked to select hearing aids that would help my Dad hear. Like many folks that grew up in the Depression era, my Dad is very careful with his money. For years he has tried to “make-do” with “hand-me-down” hearing aids but they never worked. Last week Dad was fitted with a brand new pair that fit his ears perfectly and he could hear me when I spoke normally (not shouting). It was amazing!

That said, I don’t know what to do next. Dad has moved into a senior living environment for a short stay so that I can work on some catering projects but I can tell that he his not happy. And why would he be? His life has changed in so many ways and his daughter seems to be “bossing” him around. Stay tuned as the journey continues….

Gluten-Free Wedding Cake

Through all of this, I want to tell you that one of the activities that has kept me grounded has been baking… such as the pie for Brandon and Marilka… and a gluten-free wedding cake for my friend Judith Anne’s son. I’ve also experimented with a gluten-free/vegan chocolate chip cookie recipe from Babycakes and it is DELICIOUS!!! (Please try them as soon as you get the chance… you won’t be sorry!)

Finally, yesterday I decided to bring a pie to the Sargent family of Buckhorn Springs. This weekend, their daughter Lauren is getting married and I am spending this week helping to cater her wedding. I wanted to thank them for putting their trust in me and allowing me to be a part of this very special time in their lives.

“This is my invariable advice to people: Learn how to cook — try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, BE FEARLESS, and above all have fun.” Julia Child